Great I have about half a pound of both Bullseye and AA#5

You can put that Bullseye and AA#5 to use.
6 grains of Bullseye (I happen to use Clays now that I'm out of Bullseye) with a cast bullet or 110 gr FMJRN is a nice subsonic load - check out C.E.Harris at http://guns.connect.fi/gow/ed.html.
8 grains of AA#5 (I use HS-6) will give you a little more zip if you want it.

I am wanting to shoot my FR-8 mauser more and need a reduced load for it. I have a bad shoulder and this light little rifle beats it too death. Loads are just for plinking so I am looking for cheap and easy on the shoulder.

Try using Blue Dot. Fill the case with Blue Dot and weigh just the powder. Calculate about 40% of that and use it for your Blue Dot load. Load it just like you would any other cartridge making very sure you don't do a double charge.

The recoil will be greatly reduced and you will still get pretty good accuracy.

The load can be increased to about 50% if you feel you need a little more velocity.

The Blue Dot is a good way to go.

If you have some 110gr. FMJRNs 36gr. 4198 makes a good plinker that is easy on the shoulder. Is that FR-8 strong enough to handle full load .308 cartridges? Isn't that a modified small ring Mauser? I'm not sure that's why I asked.
You can get some really deadly loads with those carbine bullets if you try. roger

Bluedot should work, but there are published reduced loads in the Speer manual and at Hodgdon.com. HTH, Dutch.

Cheap? Coming up with a cheap sugestion is easier if you tell us what you've got lying around. What powders, including pistol/shotgun powders? What bullets - any cast, 0 buck or .32 pistol?
p.s.
Tell Bartsche the FR-8 is a large ring Mauser.

Yes the FR-8 is large ring and the FR-7 is a small ring.
As for what I have laying around I have Bullseye and a little Blue Dot. I no longer use the Bullseye for any thing but use Blue Dot in my .41 mag. I also have some Acurate #5 I don't use for anything.

O.K. I filled a case full to top of mouth and it weighed 40.6 grains. 40% of that would be 16.24 grains so that is where it is safe to start with Blue Dot? The only other reduced loads I see are with IMR 4759. I have used that in the past for 45/70 loads in a handgun so might try it.

jacob,

yeah, you got the formula right. When you work up, I noticed that the max percentage was only like 48 % instead of 60 % of max. A good point of reference is with a 150 grain bullet, as soon as your velocity hits 2400 fps, start working any further real carefully. IN a 30/06 that was at 24 grains, since the case capacity on that was 52. grains.

I have just settled on a load of 22.5 grains in the 30/06 for a MV of 2150 fps. Basically making a 30/30 out of it, with a pointed bullet. However at that velocity pointed or Round Nose really doesn't matter.

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

Well I loaded up a few rounds with 6 grains of Bullseye and 110 grain speer spire points. They sounded like a .22 mag. Didn't use a big enough target at 50 yards though so I have no idea where they went. Any idea if the 147 grain mil surp bullets I have would work or would they be way to heavy.

Don,

that has been my experience also with a lot of reduced load powders. XMP 5744 is Marketed for reduced loads, but I have had a lot better results with blue dot for accuracy, that is why I have used it.

Maybe Alliant should get off of their buns and do so marketing themselves, or maybe they are getting enough blue dot business as it is, and they don't think they need any more.

Wish I had a 308 to send you some load info on it.

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

seafire and all,

You guys got me headed in the right direction. I thank you for that.



Da Man, I figured the 147 grainers would be to heavy. Do you ever stop by the Cetme and FR-8 forum on gunboards.com?

I wouldn't reduce the load. I would change bullets..Shoot some 130 gr. Barnes X bullets loaded at about 2700 FPS or less..That is a mild recoiling load that will kill elk if need be..My 12 year old grand son likes that load.

Ray,
Barnes X bullets are awefull expensive to use for just plinking. The reason for a reduced load was not for hunting but so the rifle could be shot for extended periods plinking.

AGAIN ! Try the inexpensive 110 fmj carbine bullets. Combine this w/ one of Seafires blue dot loads and you'll have just what you seem to be asking for;accuracy, low recoil, and exceptionally low cost = roger